Thursday, August 28, 2008

DearREADERS,While Ol’ Myrt has been out purchasing appliances for her new home, great things have been happening in the world of genealogy. This is the first of two such reports:

Family Tree Maker 2009This popular software’s newest version is available today as announced at the Ancestry.com blog by Russell Hannig. In fact, I’ve held up the release of this week’s DearMYRTLE’s Family History Hour genealogy podcast in order to include an interview with the Ancestry.com folks about this new version. Here’s more info from the press release:

The Family Tree Maker team is pleased to announce the release of Family Tree Maker 2009. We are excited about the new features and user requested tools included in this version. Over the past year, we have been making patches available that include additional functionality and features that our customers have asked for. In addition, the features included in the 2009 version come primarily from our Family Tree Maker 2008 users, showing us what features should be released next and testing the product to make sure it is working at top efficiency. We had more than 300 beta testers for Family Tree Maker 2009. We appreciate this active and ongoing participation.

Take a look at what’s new since the original release of Family Tree Maker 2008. Features available for the first time in Version 2009 are marked with an asterisk (*).

Genealogy Reports

Register and Ahnentafel full reports

Register and Ahnentafel simplified reports*

Data Errors report*

Charts

Vertical Pedigree Chart

Hourglass Chart*

Horizontal Hourglass Chart*

Bow Tie Chart*

180-Degree Fan Chart*

Family Tree Chart*

Publishing Functionality

Book layouts for main charts

Saved settings in charts/reports

Saved templates in charts

Preparer information included in chart footers

Enhancements to the RTF export

Ability to show siblings within charts*

Single-page PDF export from charts*

Ability to add boxes in charts to a “Marked Box” category and modify box settings for these boxes*

Improved Data Manipulation Tools

Change Place Name tool

Find and Replace tool

Streamlined data entry from any workspace using a full-featured edit person window*

Ability to set spouse order (Person menu)*

Ability to order media items for an individual*

Find Individual tool (Edit menu)*

Find Duplicate Individuals tool (Edit menu)*

Ability to update multiple facts at one time (From Manage Facts or Fact options): change fact types, move description to place or place to description, mark as private*